By Tess Wolfe-Stelzer
A decorative dessert stand serves quintuple duty for a display of pies, cakes, cookies, buches de Noel, or homemade dark chocolate-dipped salt caramels. If you deliver any of the aforementioned goodies to your neighbor on a hand-crafted stand he just might return your snow shovel. Or stop complaining about your barking dog. Or apologize for the weird, off-color remark he made when you were getting the mail. The stands also look quite becoming when grouped together on a sideboard or table displaying their full caloric array.
They’re easily constructed using re-purposed material from any kitchen cupboard or Goodwill and a tube of high-powered glue. Throw some paint on them if you’re feeling crazy.

Materials

Measuring tape
Oil pencil
Dish or other flat-surfaced kitchenware to be used as the top of the stand A nice range of options are available, including: Scalloped-edged metal tart pan (turned upside down); cut or depression glass tray; vintage china dish. (One caveat: clear glass may show the epoxy through the glass.)Pedestal base Options abound for the cake stand base: Fluted glass light fixture; upside down champagne or parfait glasses; upside down glass bowl; silver candle stick with broad base; fluted metal ice cream cup; basically any glass or metal form that catches your fancy that is sufficiently fluted on both ends to provide a stable base.E6000 glue Note: Play around with tops and bottoms. Try grouping either complimentary or contrasting colors or finishes. Make sure the weight and diameter of your pedestal can support the top without tipping over. (Unless you’re making a wedding cake stand for your frenemy and your ex’s upcoming nuptials. In which case you should group unbalanced parts and use Elmer’s glue.)

Directions

Step 1: Find your plate’s center using a measuring tape. Mark with a oil pencil. If your plate is clear glass, you can mark the center on the opposite side so that you can remove the mark after you have glued the base and top together.Step 2: Center the fluted base around this mark and draw a ring where the two meet to act as a glue guide.Step 3: Apply E6000 glue to the lip of the base, which will be attached to the top.Step 4: Using the ring as a guide, press the pedestal to the plate. When the glue has dried (dry overnight to be safe) rub off the oil pencil ring.Step 5: Decorate further with paint as desired (optional). Place goodies atop and spread holiday cheer.About the Author:
Tess Wolfe-Stelzer won the title of Main Maker in the 2011 ReadyMade 100 contest and is an occasional DIY contributor to New Day Northwest. She labors by day in a hematopathlogy lab and spends evenings gluing, cutting, drawing and imagining ways to repupose junk into eye-catching and useful objects.

Very creative and cute way to repurpose. I found some pretty holiday plates that I’m going to use for this.
And, I LOVE the branch vase in the last photo.

Diane Bowers

I would love to see more of Tess’ work, where can I go to see it?

Dolores Monet

I love to repurpose old dishware and this is such a cool idea. Cake stands are so wonderful to elevate food on a buffet. I used one at a tea for little sandwiches, but had to borrow one. I have a plain white one but now I can’t wait to build another!